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Started harvesting yesterday.

We removed the top box, placed it on the ground on a solid board. Then removed the topcloth, and placed it back on the hive stack.

Then we put the escape board on top of the harvested box. We're using screen cones. Didn't know how many to put on the board, so one has 3 and another 5. There's a 2 inch rim to give the bees some room.

Bees have been escaping all day. I'll keep checking and when they're virtually all gone, we'll crush and strain.

Re: Started harvesting yesterday.

Originally Posted by mike haney

very nice but too much work for crush and strain-just shake/brush the bees off each frame & its done.

On one box, all the combs went catty corner, and not lined up with the top bars. There's pretty much zero work using the escape board. I'd rather do all of my comb cutting and pulling without bees around, but it sounds like you enjoy your way, too.

Re: Started harvesting yesterday.

With a true warre, the escape board is definitely the way to go. I was in a hurry, didn't use an escape board, and brought the boxes homes. Had enough bees come home with me that the alley was unsafe for several days. Eventually I put out an old hive and the homeless gals moved in. I gave them a couple days to calm down, then took the hive back to the apiary and combined it with a weak hive. I think Warre used a ton of smoke, but I don't want to flavor the honey.

Re: Started harvesting yesterday.

Quick question (i have only previously harvested one comb at a time from my Warre).

How do you insure that the queen is not in the top box if all the comb is not capped? I consistently find brood up in the top box, middle and lower portion comb? Im a bit scared to pull the box and throw a escape on like you built even though it seems to be the easiest, most recommended route to take.

Re: Started harvesting yesterday.

The queen will normally flee from the smoke et al. so I don't think its a big problem, but I won't pull any boxes with brood. I insert my escape into the hive for a day or two which would give the queen plenty of time to leave.
These photos are of my escape https://www.box.com/s/u3f2uzj0f3gzr6egmrmh